With a degree in Chinese from London's School of Oriental and African Studies, Damian has been researching and writing guidebooks to China since 1997.
A fluent speaker and reader of Chinese, Damian has worked as co-ordinating author on five editions of the Lonely Planet China guide to date, witnessing China during its period of greatest transformation. Damian has also co-written multiple editions of the Lonely Planet Beijing and Shanghai city guides, served as co-ordinating author of... Read more...
"In 1992 I was invited to join the inaugural flight of Richard Branson's Vintage Airways, an airline operating holiday flights from Orlando to Key West using two restored Douglas DC3 aircraft offering 1940's style service, livery, uniforms and experience—one of their signature moments was the excited announcement from the flight deck that they had just heard on the radio, news of the Japanese surrender in the Pacific. I remember the thing that surprised me most—besides Japan tenaciously holding on for another 50 years—was having to walk steeply uphill to my seat."
Alastair McKenzie, 'What's Changed In 60 years of Civil Aviation?', The Director, Oct 07
